Typewriting machine



" July-10, 1923.

J. HOLDEN TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sent. 14, 1922 WITNESSES MM n5 ATTURNEY Patented July 10, 1223.

- insists .msnrn B. HOLDEN,

OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF ILION, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPEWRITIN G MACHINE.

Application filed September 14, 1922. Serial No. 588,141.

T 0 all whom it may concern;

Be it-known that I, JOSEPH B. HOLDEN, citizen of the United States, and resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriting and like machines, and the main object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide a very simple, compact, inexpensive and yet highly eflic-ient mechanism of the character specified. v

A further object of my invention is to embody the ribbon reversing mechanism of my invention in existing stfyles of typewriting machines without modi ying, or materially modifying, the structural features of said machines as they now exist.

I To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the features of construction, arrangements of parts and combinations of devices set forth in the following description and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the different views,

Figure 1 is a detail fragmentary top plan view of the ribbon feed and reversing mechanism.

Figure 2 is a detail fra entary front elevation of the left-hand ribbon spool and the associated ribbon feed and reversing devices at that side of the machine, together with the coacting detent devices.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail fragmentary top plan view, with parts in section, of the detent devices and parts associated therewith.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the same. Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the combined contact and reversing devices mounted on its supporting bracket.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail side elevation showin the ribbon feed pawl and ratchet wheel:

Figure 7 is 'a detail perspective view of one of the reversing cam members;

I have embodied my invention in the present instance in a Remington portable machine, one form of which is somewhat like that disclosed in my Patent No. 1,397,-

- 166, dated November 15, 1921,

the present invention being in the nature of an improvement on said construction and on that disclosed in the pending application of Peter L. Schmidt, Serial No. 576,944, filed July 24, 1922. While the invention is not restrict ed to embodiment in such a machine, it will be understood that'it is particularly adapted for use in a small, light, portable machine since there is little room available in such machines for the use of complicated, heavy or bulky mechanism. Therefore, the provision of simple, compact, light and inexpensive mechanism is highly important, if not an absolutely necessary factor in the successful production of such a machine. While the general objects of the invention stated above may be said to be important in the production of any typewriting machine, they become doubly so in a portable machine where ever unnecessary part eliminated without re ucing efliciency, makes for the greater success in building such a machine.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown only so much of the Remington portable machine as is necesary to arrive at an understanding of m invention in its embodiment therein, t e construction being well understood by those skilled in the art, and is illustrated in the main in my said hereinbefore mentioned patent.

The supporting plates 1 correspond to the usual bracket arms or ribbon supporting plates in a Remington portable machine, and which are formed as parts of the case shift frame and partake of the case shifting movement of the platen fore-and-aft of the niachine. h p ates are upri ts or supportin posts 2, ne for each sid of the machine. ilflach post has a screw 3 on which is threaded the base of an upwardly projecting hollow spindle 4 provided at its upper end with a ribbon catch 5 to hold the associated spool 6 or 7 against accidental removal or displacement from the spindle 4 on which it is mounted to turn.

The spools may be of any suitable construction, and for the purpose of the present in Attached to these supporting plate L by heade Remington portable machine. In any event each spool directly engages the associated beveled driving gear 10 or 11, which is arranged directly beneath the spool and turns freely on its spindle 4, and forms a support for the spool. A driving and reversing shaft 12 extends across the machine from side to side thereof and is supported in bearing openings in the post 2 for rotar and for longitudinal movement therein. gppositely disposed beveled pinions 13 and 14 are mounted on this shaft, one beneath each spool and in a position to be'thrown into mesh with its companion gear 10 or 11 when the other pinion is thrown out of mesh with its gear, or vice versa. Intermittent rotary motion is transmitted to the shaft? 12 at each printing operation by a pawl 15 coacting with a ratchet wheel 16 on the shaft 12; the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that the pawl and ratchet receive a bodily movement with the supporting plates 1 when the latter move at case shifting operations.

Each end of the ribbon 17 may be connected to its spool by an suitable-means, as by a C-shaped spring 0 ip 18 that clamps the ribbon to the core of its spool, as shown in the drawings.

Means whereby the driving shaft 12 is au-' tomatically shifted longitudinally to reverse the direction of the feed of the ribbon comprises two independently operable controlling members, one associated with eachspool, and each designated as a whole by the reference numeral 19. Each member is inthe nature of a combined contact and reversing device preferably struck up from a single piece ofsheet metal, as best shown in Fig. 5. An arm 20 of each member forms a con tact device that enters between the flanges or heads of its spool and bears against the outer face of the ribbon on the spool; mov- 1n ril bon is unwound therefrom. Parallel supporting portions 21 and 22 of each member 20 are provided with aligned openings through which the stem of a headed pivot pin 23 passes. The lower end of each pivot pin 23 is riveted in an opening in a bracket plate 24 adj ustabl secured to the companion these screws pass through elongated openings 26 in the bracket and are received in tapped openings in the plate 1 that supports it. A sheet metal ribbon guide 27 is pivoted on each pin' 23 and holds the associated reversing device19 from moving up thereon. The connectingportion 28, which unites the parallel supporting portions of each sheet metal reversing device 19, has riveted thereto an outwardly extending pin 29 that terminates in a conical orpointed end 30. A contractile spring 31 has one end connected at 32 to an arm on the associated towards the axis of the spool as the screws 25. The stems of morale bracket 24, the other end of the spring being connected to an ear 33 on the companion reversing device 19. ,The force of each spring 31 is exerted to turn its device 19 on its pivot and cause the contact 20 of the reversing device to bear against the outer surface of the ribbon on the companion spool and cause the engaging pin 29 to move forwardly to engage its companion cam member 34. Each cam member is in the nature of a sleeve tapped to receive a screw 35 by which it is adjustably and detachably secured to the shaft 12 near one end thereof. It will be seen that the shaft passes freely through openings 24 in the brackets 24 and through slots 36 in the sides 37 of the frame, and that the cam members 34 project beyond said sides where they are accessible to the operator for control by hand when desired, either to. turn the shaft or shift it longitudinally. Each cam member is preferably formed with a knurled head or end 38 to facilitate an actuation of the shaft by hand. Each member 34 has two oppositely disposed inclined cam faces 39 and two abrupt straight faces 40, each of the latter being coincident with the lowest portion of its associated cam face 39. The outer peripheral surfaces 41, intermediate the cam faces 39, constitute dwells or rests on which the pointed pin 29 of the associated reversing device or member 19 is adapted to bear before the rotation of the cam member brings a notch therein in register with the pin 29 of the amociated effective reversing device.

As the ribbon 17 is about to be exhausted from one spool, say, the left-hand spool 6, as shown in Fig. 1, the contact 20 of the associated reversing device 19, pressing towards the axis of the spool 6, carries the pin 29 against one of the surfaces 41 where it is held against further pivotal movement towards the axis of the shaft 12 until a further turning movement of the shaft brings the next advancing abrupt face 40 past the pin 29. Then the companion reversing device 19, being free to receive a further pivotal movement under the action of its spring 31, causes the pointed end of the pin 29 on said device to enter the registering notch and to engage the adjacent cam face 39. As the shaft continues to turn in the direction of the arrow 0, in Fig. 1, it will be forced to move longitudinally to the left by the action of the cam on the relatively fixed associated pin 29, and to shift the beveled pinion 13 into mesh with its companion gear 10 while the pinion 14 is being forced out of mesh with its companion gear 11 of the full spool. The parts are shown in Fig. 1 as they appear just after the above described shifting has taken place to bring about a reversal in the direction of feed and cause the. ribbon to feed in the direction of the arrow b, winding on sides of the shaft the empty spool 6 and off the full spool 7. When the shaft 12 has completed its longitudinal shifting movement just described, the inner end of the left-hand active cam member 34 will be carried outwardly beyond the reach of the companion pin 29, as shown in Fig. 1, where said pin can no longer coact with its cam untilthe shaft has been shifted in the opposite direction by the other independently operating reversing device 19. As the ribbon continues to wind on the empty spool, the ribbon thereon will cause the associated member 19 to be turned on its pivot, carrying the associated pin 29 away from its can1,'as will be understood from an inspection of the parts at the right-hand side of Fig. '1.

When the ribbon is exhausted from the right-hand spool 7 its controlling member or reversing device will be automaticallv' brought into active position to shift the shaft to the right in order to wind the ribbon on the spool 7 and off the spool 6.

In order to prevent an accidental longitudinal shifting .of the shaft 12 and also insure its prompt and complete throw at each longitudinal shifting operation, I have provided novel detent mechanism now to be described.

One of the supporting posts 2, the lefthand post in the present instance, is drilled with a circular opening that extends therethrough with its axis extending fore-andaft of the machine or at right-angles to the bearing opening through which the shaft 12 extends, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This fore-and-aft opening forms two bearing openings 42 in the post for the reception of two detents 43 disposed on opposite 12. The detents are sup ported wholly by the hearings in the posts and are adaptedto slide freely therein toward and from the axis of the shaft 12. The inner end of each detent is rounded at .44 where it is received in one or the other of two circumferential grooves 45 in the shaft 12. An intervening dividing portion 46 separates the two grooves and forms sloping surfaces on opposite sides thereof, thereby providing a circumferential cam 46 on the shaft bordered by two circumferential grooves 45. A substantially U-shaped or yoke-like wire spring 47 has inwardly bent ends 48, each of which is received and seated in an opening 49 in the outer end of the companion detent 43, the parallel arms of the spring exerting their force inwardly towards the axis of the shaft 12. In this manner the spring is supported by the movable detents and is free from connection with the machine at all therefore referred to herein as a floating spring. The cross bar which unites the two parallel arms of the spring may extend under the shaft 12 and rest on but is free versing shaft other points, and is from connection with the associated supporting plate 1, as shown in Fig. 2. When the shaft is shifted longitudinally the de tents are forced outwardly against the force of their spring 47 until the center dividing portion or cam 46 passes the center line of the detents. The force of the spring is then exerted to cam the shaft longitudinally the remainder of its throw and insure a complete throw of the shaft, and the maintenance of the proper gears 10 and 13 or 11 and 14 in mesh.

From what has been said it will be understood that the spring 47 is detachably connected to and supported by the detents 43 and is held in such connection by the force of the spring itself and may be readily introduced in position or detached when desired; also affording a ready introduction or removal of the detents. It also will be understood that the spring exerts a balanced force against the detents toward the axis of the shaft, the resistance to such force being borne by the shaft equally at opposite sides thereof. It follows, therefore, that none of the force exerted by the floating spring 47 can be directed unequally at either side of the shaft to crowd it-transversely against its bearing in the supporting post. Therefore, the shaft is free from any such resistance which might interfere with its shifting and turning movements, enabling the shaft to receive a complete and prompt shifting movement with the aid of a very light spring. Moreover, th detent mechanism occupies but little space, is cheap to manufacture and assemble in the machine, and adds but little weight thereto, and is efficient in use.

It will be seen that the pinions on the driving shaft mesh directly with the gears which carry the ribbon spools and that each controlling member coacts directly with its ribbon spool, and with its cam on the driving shaft, thus dispensing with all trains of connections between these parts. It will be seen, moreover, that the parts are all carried by and shift with ,the supporting plates 1 in the case shifting movements of the latter, thus maintaining their effective relation one to another without the use of complicated connections.

What I claim as new by Letters Patent, is

In ,a ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriting and like machines, the combination of a longitudinally shiftable ribbon reand detent mechanism therefor and-desire to secure comprising a circumferential cam on saidshaft, sliding detents arranged on opposite sides of said shaft and co-operative with said cam, and a yoke co'acting at its ends with said detents and forcing them towards each other and towards the axis of said shaft.

shaped floating spring 2. In a ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriting and like machines, the combinasaid shaft, bordered on each side b a circumferential groove, two detents s idingly mountedjn a relatively fixed support and arranged on opposite sides of said shaft and co-operative with said cam and grooves, and a yoke shaped spring co-operative at its ends with said detents but detachable therefrom and effective to force the detents towards each other and towards the axis of said shaft.

7 3. In a ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriting and like machines, the combination of a longitudinally shiftable ribbon reversing shaft, and detent mechanism therefor comp-rising a circumferential cam on said shaft, a support in a bearing opening in which said shaft is received and supported for turning and longitudinal movement, two detents supported and sliding in bearing openings that extend through said support with their axes at substantially right-angles to the axis of said shaft and coact with said cam, and spring iiaeans co-operative with said detents to force them towards each other and towards the axis of said shaft.

4. In a ribbon reversing mechanism for typewrit-ing and like machines, the combination of a longitudinally shiftable ribbon reversing shaft, and detent mechanism therefor comprising a circumferential cam on said shaft, two detents that coact with said cam on opposite sides of the shaft and supported by a relatively fixed part against longitudinal movement with the shaft, and a floating spring disconnected except at its ends where it is operative-1y connected to said detents and exerts a force thereon to move the detents toward each other and towards the axis of the shaft.

5. In a ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriting and like machines, the combination of a longitudinally shiftable ribbon reversing shaft, and detent mechanism therefor comprising a circumferential cam on said shaft, two detents that coact with said cam and are supported for sliding movement transversely of the shaft on opposite sides thereof in a relatively fixed part of the machine, each detent having an opening; in the outer end thereof, and a substantially U- shaped spring with inturned ends seated in said openings in the detents and supported thereby and forcing the detents towards each other and towards the axis of the shaft.

6. In a. ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriting and like machines, the combination of a reversing shaft. a post'having a bearing opening through which said shaft extends and in which it is supported for turning and for longitudinal shifting movement, and detent mechanism for said shaft comprising a. circumferential cam on said shaft, two detents arranged on opposite sides of said shaft and mounted for sliding movement in holes that extend through said post at substantially right-angles to the bearing opening in which the shaft is received, each detent having a hole in its outer end, anda substantially U-shapcd wire spring having inturned ends that are seated in the holes in said detents, said spring being supported by the detents and tending to force them towards each other and towards the axis of the shaft.

7. In a ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriting and like machines, the combination of a support that partakes of the case shifting movement of the platen, a supporting post fixed thereto and having bearing openings therein with the axes thereof extending at substantially right-angles to each other, a ribbon feed and reversing shaft supported for turning and longitudinal shifting movements in one of said bearing openings, a circumferential cam on said shaft, detents received and supported in the other of said bearing openings in the post and coacting with said circumferential cam, and spring means coacting with said deten'ts.

8. In a ribbon reversing mechanism for typewrit-in and like machines, the combination of a support that partakes of the case shifting movement of the platen, a supporting post fixed thereto and having bearing openings therein with the axes thereof ext-ending at substantially right-angles to each other, a ribbon feed and reversing shaft supported for turning and longitudinal shifting movements in one of said bearing openings, a circumferential cam on said shaft, a ribbon spool spindle fixed to said post, a ribbon spool that turns on said spindle, detents received and supported in the other of said bearing openings in the post and coacting with said circumferential cam, and spring means coacting with said detents whereby said ribbon spools, reversing shaft and de-tents shift with said support in its case shifting movements with the platen.

9. In a ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriting and like machines, the combination of a support that partakes of the case shifting movement of the platen, a supporting post fixed thereto and having bearing openings therein with the axes thereof extending at substantially right-angles to each other, a ribbon feed and reversing shaft supported for turning and longitu-.

supported in the other of said bearing openings in the post and coacting with said circumferential cam, spring means coacting with said detents, said shaft, and reversing devices pivoted on said support and each coacting with one of said cams and with the ribbon on the associated spool, whereby said ribbon spool, re-' versing shaft, detents and reversing devices shift with said support in its case shifting movements with the platen.

10. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of two ribbon spools, two independently operable members each comprising a combined ribbon contact and reversing device having a pointed engaginlg projection, one member associated with eac spool and having its contact bearing against the outer surface of the ribbon thereon and moving inwardly towards theaxis of the spool to bring about a reversal in the direction of the feed of the ribbon, detachable brackets each carrying a reversing device, a drivin gear for each spool, a longitudinally s iftin driving shaft carrying pinions, one mova le into mesh with it driving gear when the other is moved out of mesh with its companion driving gear, and two separate cams on said shaft and with each of which directly coacts the pointed enga- 'ng projection on the associated combine ribbon contact and reversing device member tocause said-shaft to be shifted longitudinally by a camming action and to reverse the direction of feed of the ribbon, each said cams carrying aknurled head ribbon reversing cams on forming a finger piece by which the shaft may be turned by hand.

11.' In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of two ribbon spools, twoindependently operable members each comprising a, combined ribbon contact and reversing device, one member associated with each spool and each member. formed from sheet metal with a yoke-like part carryin a pointed reversing pin riveted thereto an also formed with a cont-act bearing against the outer surface of the ribbon on the associated spool and moving inwardly towards the axis of the spool to bring about a res versal in the direction of the feed of the ribbon, two detachable and adjustable brackets each carrying one of said reversing devices, a driving gear for each ribbon shaft carrying pinions one movable into mesh with its drivin 3 gear when the other is moved out of mes with its companion driving gear, and two separate cams on said shaft and each of which directly coacts with the pointed reversing pin on the associated combined ribbon contact and reversing member to cause said shaft to be shifted longitudinally by a camming action and to reverse. the

Signed at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 7th day of September, A: D. 1922.

Witnesses:

, DENNIS V. CAHILL,

HAROLD I. KIMME-Y.

direction of feed of the ribbon. I

JOSEPH B. HOLDEN.

" spool, a longitudinally shifting driving 

